XVIII Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

You cannot stop a child from his playful activities and leave him inactive, but
you can stop him by engaging him in superior activities. Similarly, the forceful
restraint of the sense activities, by following the eight principles of Yoga practice,
is recommended for an inferior class of men; but the superior class of men, being
engaged in the better activities of Krishna Consciousness, naturally retire from the
inferior activities of material existence.

Lord Chaitanya in this way teaches us the science of Krishna Consciousness, which
is absolute. Dry mental speculators try to restrain themselves from material attach-
ment, but it is generally found that the mind, being too strong to be controlled,
sometimes drags such speculators down in the matter of sensual activities; but there
is no such chance for persons in Krishna Consciousness. Therefore, one has to engage
one’s mind and senses in Krishna conscious activities, and how this is practically
possible is taught by the Lord, Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

Before His acceptance of the Sannyas, or renounced order of life, Lord Chaitanya
was known as Viswambhar. Vistvambhar means the one who maintains the whole
Universe as leader of all living entities. The very same maintainer and leader of all
living entities appeared as Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya to give us the sublime teachings
of life, and was the ideal Teacher of the prime necessities of life. He is the most
munificent Giver of the love of Krishna. He is the complete Reservoir of all mercies
and auspiciousness. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna,
as is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata and Upanishads,
He appeared as worshipable by everyone in this age of disagreement. Everyone can
join in His Samkirtan movement without any previous qualification, and everyone
can become the most perfect human being by following His teachings. If anyone is
fortunate enough to be attracted by all His Features of manifestation, one is sure to
be successful in the mission of one’s life. In one word, those who are interested in
being situated in spiritual existence can get easily relieved from the clutches of Maya
by the Grace of Lord Chaitanya, now presented in the book form of Teachings of
Lord Chaitanya, non-difterent from the Lord.

The conditioned soul, being engrossed in the material body, increases the pages
of history of all kinds of material activities. But the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
can help the human society to stop such unnecessary and temporary activities, and
can elevate one to the topmost platform of spiritual activities, which begin after
liberation from material bondage. Such liberated activities in Krishna Consciousness
are the goal of human perfection. The false prestige of acquiring lordship over the
material Nature is illusion only, and one can get illuminating knowledge from the
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, in order to advance in one’s spiritual existence.

One has to suffer or enjoy the fruits of one’s activity, and nobody can check the
laws of material Nature which govern such things. So long as one is engaged in such
activities, one is sure to be baffled in attempting to achieve the ultimate goal of life.
I hope therefore most sincerely that by understanding the Teachings of Lord
